constant breakups on HD channels

[smjbh5]

Hi. Its difficult for me to watch HD these days. I get breakups on almost every channel now (NBC, NFL..). First it was only on channels that were on 129, now it's on all HD channels. I used to get them every once in a while, but now it's on every show I watch!

I have a 622.

What can I do?

 

[slick1ru2]

Check your line of sight and signal strength. Its late summer and trees growth can be in the way. Also check dish alignment.

 

[tastim]

Hi. Its difficult for me to watch HD these days. I get breakups on almost every channel now (NBC, NFL..). First it was only on channels that were on 129, now it's on all HD channels. I used to get them every once in a while, but now it's on every show I watch!

I have a 622.

What can I do?

90% of the time this is simply a matter of signal strength and how well the Dish is mounted and pointed. The 129 satellite is very low powered and if the Dish isn't peaked near perfect, you will have these problems.

It can be a receiver or LNB too... but you have to eliminate Signal Strength before anything else.

 

[smjbh5]

It can be a receiver or LNB too... but you have to eliminate Signal Strength before anything else.

Signal strength is 45 on 110 and 119 (spotbeam/transponder 7), 32 on 129 (transponder 30). WOW, pretty low, right?

How would I even go about fixing this? There are no trees in the way.

 

[tastim]

Signal strength is 45 on 110 and 119 (spotbeam/transponder 7), 32 on 129 (transponder 30). WOW, pretty low, right?

How would I even go about fixing this? There are no trees in the way.

Yes, your signal is low. My first guess would be that the dish mount has settled.... if it is mounted to the facia board on your house, my money says the elevation needs to be raised

Easiest way to fine tune your dish alignment is with your TV and the help of a friend/spouse. Grab a 7/16 inch wrench and head out to the dish and without loosening any bolts, pull on the reflector from side to side and top to bottom to see which way the dish needs to move to improve your signal...

Once you figure that out (have your partner reading the signal levels... just check 119 satellite for this to start), loosen the bolts and move the dish to it's new angle and tighten it back down. Don't undo all the bolts at once... each direction only has 2 bolts that need to be loosened.

 

[crappieguy]

Yes, your signal is low. My first guess would be that the dish mount has settled.... if it is mounted to the facia board on your house, my money says the elevation needs to be raised

Easiest way to fine tune your dish alignment is with your TV and the help of a friend/spouse. Grab a 7/16 inch wrench and head out to the dish and without loosening any bolts, pull on the reflector from side to side and top to bottom to see which way the dish needs to move to improve your signal...

Once you figure that out (have your partner reading the signal levels... just check 119 satellite for this to start), loosen the bolts and move the dish to it's new angle and tighten it back down. Don't undo all the bolts at once... each direction only has 2 bolts that need to be loosened.

When he says PULL he means GENTLY. Dont go warping the thing. Just gently nudge in each direction.
Or call a LOCAL retailer for a simple repeak. It will not be free. Most of the subs LOVE this kind of job. Usually easy money. I do them all the time...

 

[smjbh5]

When he says PULL he means GENTLY. Dont go warping the thing. Just gently nudge in each direction.
Or call a LOCAL retailer for a simple repeak. It will not be free. Most of the subs LOVE this kind of job. Usually easy money. I do them all the time...

My dish is on my fence, so that could be the problem. What if I sign up for that home warranty plan dish has ($5.99/month), have them come out to fix it, then cancel? Would that work?

 

[smjbh5]

My dish is on my fence, so that could be the problem. What if I sign up for that home warranty plan dish has ($5.99/month), have them come out to fix it, then cancel? Would that work?

So would this work??

 

[tastim]

So would this work??

Once? Yes. If I were in your shoes (and wasn't a tech)... I wouldn't mention anything about wanting the Dish moved ... just mention your problems... less likely they will play hardball with you this way.

 

[smjbh5]

What range should the signal be in?

What is the ideal range that the signal strength should be in? 110 and 119 are currently hovering around 45, and 129 is in the 30s. Once the signal strength improves, will that mean the end of the brake ups? Or is some expected?

 

[tigershere]

I was about to make a new post on a similar issue

My HD is out of B'Ham Alabama and it's on 119 yet it also is on 61.5 or my receivers going crazy. Several times over the last few days I caught it swapping birds on me. It's done it twice today and I only checked a few times.

The 119 was repeaked and it's got a nice signal of around 70
Now when my HD locals bounce to 61.5 I had a VERY low signal, yellow to orange at 14 to 18. After a repeak it's just under 30 but why are the HD Locals going from a strong 119 to a weaker 61.5
I think it did it during fringe last night as my signal starting breaking up about 20 minutes in

The last time I saw it at 61.5 i did a reset and when it booted back up it was on 119 again
Yet, this afternoon the sucker went back to 61.5 and I checked a hr ago and it's on 119 , lol

wtf!

Also, other 61.5 channels like Food/Weather were not at a low signal. They were over 50 if not 60. Just the B'Ham were 'crap'

I looked at a lot of nationals and they are not doing this boucing and the signals are also fine and I don't get smearing or breaking up like a signal that's about to drop. Only weather do I see that EXCEPT for my HDlocals

it's just the 4 HD networks from B'ham from what I can 'see'

Is this normal or perhaps they are working on things ? I do notice too often I would get that screen that says 'we are aware of video issues please do not call' or whatever it says. I just watch the SD when that happens. My guess is instead of having the HD drop out for a hour or more than are redirecting it to a transponder on 61.5 ?

or I am way off base, lol

 

[smjbh5]

What is the ideal range that the signal strength should be in? 110 and 119 are currently hovering around 45, and 129 is in the 30s. Once the signal strength improves, will that mean the end of the brake ups? Or is some expected?

Anyone?? Need Help!

 

[JEFFinINDY]

Probably high 50s and 60s on 110, 70s on 119. 129 is all over the place, but 40-55 would be pretty good.

 

[tastim]

Probably high 50s and 60s on 110, 70s on 119. 129 is all over the place, but 40-55 would be pretty good.

It depends on where you live.... in my area, as of late I can hit in the 70s on the 110, mid to upper 60s on the 119 and mid 30s on the 129.

If you can get the 129 even into the mid to upper 20s, you shouldn't see many "breakups" on a clear day..... if you do at that level, there is something else wrong with your system.

 

[mstregamer]

I've noticed the same thing where I live in the Midwest on 129.....the screen goes black for less than a second periodicaly....never happened before.....I think it has something to do with the new software? (no clouds) as of late. Never had it happen like this ever before the new software download.

 

[RockinHARD26]

I noticed that also.

 

[smjbh5]

called dish, sending someone out on sunday. it'll cost $100, but at least i'll be able to watch hd again.

 

[equinoxman]

called dish, sending someone out on sunday. it'll cost $100, but at least i'll be able to watch hd again.

You hope. I'e had me done twice and still have problem

 

[StonesCat]

Mine does it, too, all sats, just long enough to bring that stupid signal screen up.

 

[levibluewa]

12-15 129 service calls here...

and the problem didn't go away till I switched to Directv...on the "direct" advice of the DISH installer.